Underground water resource monitoring and management system

ABSTRACT

An underground water resource monitoring and management system is described. The station is a complete hydrological and weather station and/or network capable of measuring, analyzing, storing and/or transmitting hundreds of parameters, such as but not limited to, quality and/or quantity of water and surroundings, and weather factors (e.g., rain, wind, etc), or any combination thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to water resource monitoring andmanagement systems, and particularly to an underground water resourcemonitoring and management system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Measurements of groundwater levels from wells may be used to observe theeffects of hydrologic stresses on an aquifer, and to monitor responsesto climate and groundwater development. Groundwater-level data may beused to quantify aquifer recharge, as a calibration tool forground-water models, and to support water-quality investigations.Groundwater levels can be measured continuously or periodically. Thegroundwater-level data may be sent to a central location for processingreal-time groundwater conditions. The processed data may be storedand/or displayed. The groundwater-level data may be transmitted by anykind of communications, such as but not limited to, land-line telephone,cellular telephone, land-based radio frequency (RF) technology,satellite telemetry, or a combination of these technologies. Forexample, satellite telemetry is the most common method used forreal-time data transmission within the US Geological Survey (USGS),quoting from the USGS Fact Sheet 090-01, December 2001.

However, prior art groundwater level monitoring systems have someproblems. For example, they are prone to vandalism. They also may havepower consumption problems. Some use solar panels to solve the powerconsumption problem, but these are susceptible to vandalism,environmental conditions, regulatory and safety conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved water resourcemonitoring and management system, as is described more in detailhereinbelow. The system is efficient, reliable and low cost, and solvesthe abovementioned problems of the prior art.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention a system including an underground water resource monitoringand management system, including instrumentation buried underneath aground surface for measuring groundwater levels in wells, and acontroller in communication with the instrumentation and adapted toprocess measured groundwater levels.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention theinstrumentation includes at least one of a seismic sensor, a temperaturesensor, a water level sensor, an electrical property sensor, a thermalconductivity sensor and a sensor for measuring physical properties ofwater.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention theinstrumentation and the controller are packaged in a casing capable ofsurviving underground for very long periods of time. A battery pack maybe provided for powering the instrumentation and the controller. Awireless data transmission link may be provided for communicating to anexternal station. The instrumentation and the controller may be packagedin a lockable chamber openable via a wireless and secure signal from anauthorized source. An alarm may be adapted to send an alarm upon sensingan attempt to tamper with the system. A GPS sensor may be provided forlocating the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a “clearhorizon” environmental station is provided, which may includeinstrumentation for measuring groundwater levels in wells, and many morefeatures as is described further below, for providing a complete waterresource monitoring and management system. The environmental station iscalled clear horizon because it is underground.

The environmental station is a complete hydrological and weather stationand/or network capable of measuring, analyzing, storing and/ortransmitting hundreds of parameters, such as but not limited to, qualityand/or quantity of water and surroundings, and weather factors (e.g.,rain, wind, etc), or any combination thereof.

The environmental station may be equipped with one or more kinds ofsensors for sensing not just water level, but also properties of thewater (e.g., salinity, electrical or thermal conductivity, pH,temperature, pressure, etc.) and environmental factors and properties.Examples of some of these sensors are described in U.S. published patentapplication 20030010112 to Yekutiely et al., the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, which describes, among other things,control circuitry that includes various environmental sensors, such asbut not limited to, seismic sensors, temperature sensors and humiditysensors, whose sensed data may be processed and transmitted by acontroller for water level measurement, service and/or diagnostics, forexample.

As mentioned above, the environmental station may be buried undergroundat any desired depth. By being buried underground, the station providessecurity means for protection against criminal or terrorist activities(e.g., contamination). The environmental station may comprise sensorsand control electronics in a “black box” casing made of plastic or metalwith a finish capable of surviving underground for very long periods oftime. The system thus comprises a low cost undergroundcontainer/chamber, which is hidden and invisible to persons above groundand which is protected and locked from the environment and would-bevandals.

The system may be self-powered, such as by means of a battery pack orbattery pack in conjunction with alternative energy means (e.g., aflywheel), which can operate the system for 20+ years at highreliability. There is no need for protruding solar panels (normallysusceptible to vandalism, environmental conditions, regulatory andsafety conditions). The system may communicate with a data center orfield personnel by means of wireless data transmission upload/download(e.g., cellular or satellite).

The system may have self-embedded security means. For example, thesystem may comprise a lockable chamber that can be opened onlyinternally via a wireless and secure signal from authorized source.Tampering (such as moving the whole chamber or tampering with the top)may trigger an alarm sent wirelessly to the data center and/or fieldpersonnel.

Each station may be mapped and located using GPS formaintenance/checkup, etc. The complete station and its equipment can bebrought up to the surface for maintenance purposes, such as by means ofa spring-loaded mechanism or pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanicalpowered lifting mechanism.

The system may typically operate first in a standby mode, wherein nopower is consumed except possibly for a timer for turning the station onat a preset interval (once every x minutes, days, etc.), or for a lowpower wireless channel for turning the station on remotely, and forcarrying out and storing measurements that are necessary during thestandby mode. In a power mode, the system may perform measurements andtransmit the data wirelessly, and then revert back to the standby mode.

1. A system comprising: an underground water resource monitoring andmanagement system, comprising instrumentation buried underneath a groundsurface for measuring groundwater levels in wells; and a controller incommunication with said instrumentation and adapted to process measuredgroundwater levels.
 2. The systems according to claim 1, wherein saidinstrumentation comprises at least one of a seismic sensor, atemperature sensor, a water level sensor, an electrical property sensor,a thermal conductivity sensor and a sensor for measuring physicalproperties of water.
 3. The systems according to claim 1, wherein saidinstrumentation and said controller are packaged in a casing capable ofsurviving underground for very long periods of time.
 4. The systemsaccording to claim 1, further comprising a battery pack for poweringsaid instrumentation and said controller.
 5. The systems according toclaim 1, further comprising a wireless data transmission link forcommunicating to an external station.
 6. The systems according to claim1, wherein said instrumentation and said controller are packaged in alockable chamber openable via a wireless and secure signal from anauthorized source.
 7. The systems according to claim 1, furthercomprising an alarm adapted to send an alarm upon sensing an attempt totamper with said system.
 8. The systems according to claim 1, furthercomprising a GPS sensor for locating said system.